CCI was a silver sponsor of the event, jointly organized by the China Cotton Association and the China National Cotton Exchange. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnerships among various stakeholders in driving positive change, attendees represented domestic and international government agencies, industry organizations, merchants, textile enterprises and domestic brands.

CCI, the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council (NCC), participated in collaborative discussions focused on accelerating sustainable development in the cotton industry and advancing efforts to promote global cotton consumption—while reinforcing a preference for U.S. cotton through its COTTON USA™ brand.

Dr. Gary Adams, NCC President and CEO, delivered a virtual keynote that highlighted the challenges and progress shaping U.S. cotton today. He provided updates on the global cotton supply and demand; the current U.S. economic environment; U.S. cotton planting, production and sales; and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, the sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S. cotton.

“The biggest challenge facing the global cotton industry is stagnant demand,” said Adams. “We look forward to collaborating on ways to increase demand for cotton around the world.”

In addition to the conference’s focus on the importance of building more responsible and traceable supply chains, it also featured forums on policy, domestic and international market trends, risk management through futures markets and new models for global cooperation.

The event served as an opportunity to engage with Chinese and international industry leaders, strengthen partnerships and reinforce the role of the U.S. cotton industry in delivering high-quality and more sustainable fiber.

“U.S. cotton growers are not only committed to quality—they’re committed to measurable progress in sustainability,” concluded Adams. “The U.S. cotton industry supports a future where innovation, accountability and sustainability drive the cotton industry forward.”